Here is my code in visionOS 2.3
NavigationSplitView {
List {
}
.navigationTitle("Passwords")
} detail: {
Text("Hello")
.navigationTitle("All")
}
The font size of "Passwords" and "All" are smaller than the ones in Passwords app.
Discuss spatial computing on Apple platforms and how to design and build an entirely new universe of apps and games for Apple Vision Pro.
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Has anyone had success with MeshInstancesComponent? I tried to follow the sample code from What's New in RealityKit but it wouldn't compile. I was able to use one of the init overloads to get it to compile, but using it crashes both my device and the simulator. Even with one instance.
Hello,
We discovered that a bunch of our old animated models were no longer animated on iOS15 and onwards.
After a few days of playing spot the difference between usda files I noticed that all the broken models had an xform called "Scene". Lo and behold, changing the name of that xform fixed the issue on all the models. Even lowercase "scene" makes the animations work again. Is "Scene" a reserved keyword or something? What other keywords do we need to avoid so we can create more robust USDZ files?
I'm surprised this issue isn't more widespread considering Blender wraps models in a "Scene" node.
At the drive link below you can find two animated cube USDZs. The only difference is the name of one of the xforms. The one with a "Scene" xform is not animated in quicklook (replicated on iPhone 13 iOS v15.2, iPhone 13 iOS v 18.3, and various devices on Browserstack including iPhone 16 iOS v18.3).
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dch1WaM9O6mbHy29S6NGWgnSHkZkPiBf?usp=sharing
I want to step into portal world. I've know PortalCrossingComponent can make an entity to cross portal, but how to make device cross into portal world?
I noticed that when I drag the menu window in an Immersive View, the entities behind it becomes semi-transparent, and the boundary between virtual and real-world objects is very pronounced.
May I ask how does VisionOS implement this effect? Is there any API or technique I can use in my own code to enable the same semi-transparent overlay - even when I am not dragging the menu window?
Summary
After updating to visionOS 26, we’ve encountered severe transparency rendering issues in RealityKit that did not exist in visionOS 2.6 and earlier.
These regressions affect applications that dynamically control scene opacity (via OpacityComponent).
Our app renders ultra-realistic apartment environments in real time, where users can walk or teleport inside 3D spaces. When the user moves above a speed threshold, we apply a global transparency effect to prevent physical collisions with real-world objects.
Everything worked perfectly in visionOS 2.6 — the problems appeared only after upgrading to 26.
Scene Setup Overview
The environment consists of multiple USDZ models (e.g., architecture, rooms, furniture).
We manage LODs manually for performance (e.g., walls and floors always visible in full-res, while rooms swap between low/high-res versions based on user position and field of view).
Transparency is achieved using OpacityComponent, applied dynamically when the user moves.
Some meshes (e.g., portals to skyboxes, glass windows) use alpha materials
We also use OcclusionMaterials to prevent things to be seen through walls when scene is transparent
Observed Behavior by Scenario
(I can share a video showing the results of each scenario if needed.)
Scenario 1 — Severe Flickering (Root Opacity)
Setup:
OpacityComponent applied to the root entity
NO ModelSortGroupComponent used
Symptoms:
Strong flickering when transparency is active
Triangles within the same mesh render at inconsistent opacity levels
Appears as if per-triangle alpha sorting is broken
Workaround:
Moving the OpacityComponent from the root to each individual USDZ entity removes the per-triangle flicker
Pros:
No conflicts with portals or alpha materials
Scenario 2 — Partially Stable, But Alpha Conflicts
Setup:
OpacityComponent applied per USDZ entity
ModelSortGroupComponent(planarUIAlwaysBehind) applied to portal meshes
Other entities have NO ModelSortGroupComponent
Symptoms:
Frequent alpha blending conflicts:
Transparent surfaces behind other transparent surfaces flicker or disappear
Example: Wine glasses behind glass doors — sometimes neither is rendered, or only one
Even opaque meshes behind glass flicker due to depth buffer confusion
Alpha materials sometimes render portals or the real world behind them, ignoring other geometry entirely
Analysis:
Appears related to internal changes in alpha sorting or depth pre-pass behavior introduced in visionOS 26
Pros:
Most stable setup so far
Cons:
Still unreliable when OpacityComponent is active
Scenario 3 — Layer Separation Attempt (Regression)
Setup:
Same as Scenario 2, but:
Entities with alpha materials moved to separate USDZs
Explicit ModelSortGroupComponent order set (alpha surfaces rendered last)
Symptoms:
Transparent surfaces behind other transparent surfaces flicker or disappear
Depth is completely broken when there's a large transparent surface
Alpha materials sometimes render portals or the real world behind them, ignoring other geometry entirely
Workaround Attempt:
Re-ordering and further separating models did not solve it
Pros:
None — this setup makes transparency unusable
Conclusion
There appears to be a regression in RealityKit’s handling of transparency and sorting in visionOS 26, particularly when:
OpacityComponent is applied dynamically, and
Scenes rely on multiple overlapping transparent materials.
These issues did not exist prior to 26, and the same project (no code changes) behaves correctly on previous versions.
Request
We’d appreciate any insight or confirmation from Apple engineers regarding:
Whether alpha sorting or opacity blending behavior changed in visionOS 26
If there are new recommended practices for combining OpacityComponent with transparent materials
If a bug report already exists for this regression
Thanks in advance!
How do I convert a blend shape/morphed 3D lip-synced model into a usdz that will play in AR on an iPhone?
This is no longer highlighting my entity when looking at it:
RealityView { content
let hoverComponent = HoverEffectComponent(.spotlight(
HoverEffectComponent.SpotlightHoverEffectStyle(
color: .white, strength: 2.0
)
))
entity.components.set(hoverComponent)
The entity is in a window. The same code works in an immersive view.
Collision Component and Input type are set in RCP.
It's also stopped working on my published app (built under visionOS 2.x) using my visionOS 26 device.
If I use a 2.x simulator, it works.
Is this a bug or is there something I'm missing?
Thanks.
Environment
Xcode: 16.2
VisionOS SDK 2.4
Swift 6.1
Targets: Apple Vision Pro (immersive space)
Frameworks: ARKit, RealityKit, SwiftUI
What I’m Trying to Do
I have a view-model class PlacementManager that holds two AR providers:
private var worldTracking: WorldTrackingProvider
private var planeDetection: PlaneDetectionProvider
I want to dynamically replace these providers in a setEnvironment(_:) method (so I can save/clear a JSON scene and restart ARKit).
What’s Happening
If I declare them as :
private let worldTracking = WorldTrackingProvider()
private let planeDetection = PlaneDetectionProvider()
I get compile-errors when I later do:
self.worldTracking = newWorldTracking // Cannot assign to property: 'worldTracking' is a 'let' constant
If I change them to un-initialized vars:
private var worldTracking: WorldTrackingProvider
private var planeDetection: PlaneDetectionProvider
then in my init() I get:
self used in property access 'worldTracking' before all stored properties are initialized
Code snipet
@Observable
final class PlacementManager : ObservableObject {
private var worldTracking: WorldTrackingProvider
private var planeDetection: PlaneDetectionProvider
// … other props …
@MainActor
init() {
// error: self.worldTracking used before init…
planeAnchorHandler = PlaneAnchorHandler(rootEntity: root)
persistenceManager = PersistenceManager(
worldTracking: worldTracking,
rootEntity: root
)
// …
}
@MainActor
func setEnvironment(env: Environnement) async {
let newWorldTracking = WorldTrackingProvider()
let newPlaneDetection = PlaneDetectionProvider()
try await appState!.arkitSession.run(
[ newWorldTracking, newPlaneDetection ]
)
self.worldTracking = newWorldTracking
self.planeDetection = newPlaneDetection
// …
}
}
What I’ve Tried
Giving them default values at declaration (= WorldTrackingProvider())
Initializing them at the top of init() before any use
Passing the new providers into arkitSession.run(...)
My Question
What is the recommended Swift-style pattern to declare and reassign these ARKit provider properties so that:
They’re fully initialized before use in init(), and
I can swap them out later in setEnvironment(...) without compiler errors?
Any pointers (or links to forum threads / docs) would be greatly appreciated!
Hi, I am trying to create a simple effect to create feather edges on the image using Reality Composer Pro. Something like this:
As you can see it has softer edges on all sides that dissolves into transparency with the background.
this is what I have been able to achieve on my own.
I want to use the "feather" input node value (float) from 0.0 to 1.0 to increase or decrease the strength of the feather edges.
Topic:
Spatial Computing
SubTopic:
Reality Composer Pro
Tags:
Reality Composer
Shader Graph Editor
visionOS
I’ve submitted the following feedback:
FB13820942 (List Outline View Not Using Accent Color on Disclosure Caret for visionOS)
I’d appreciate help on this to see if I’m doing something wrong or indeed it’s the way visionOS currently works and it’s a suggested feedback.
Here is the sample project from apple of Object Tracking.
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/visionOS/exploring_object_tracking_with_arkit
can we improve it tracking accuracy and tracking when object is moving little faster, so the 3d object that draw still follow it and make it more accurate.
I am experiencing an issue where USDZ files exported from Blender do not display textures when opened in Apple Vision Pro Quick Look. Instead of the expected materials, the model appears completely white, as if the textures are missing or not being recognized by the rendering engine.
Topic:
Spatial Computing
SubTopic:
General
.glassEffect(.regular, in: .rect(cornerRadius: 24))
error; 'glassEffect(_:in:isEnabled:)' is unavailable in visionOS
This is not surprising since visionOS already has a native glass interface that formed a model for the other OS's, but this error will create additional overhead for developers creating multi-platform apps that include visionOS.
While using apple's vision pro, we noticed that we can continue to use the visionOS keyboard when we no longer actually see it in passthrough.
In other words, when we focus on a field to type, visionOS displays the keyboard for us in such a way that we actually see it. Then, we noticed if we look away a little bit, either up, or down, or left, or right, in such a way that the keyboard is no longer visible by us in the passthrough, the keyboard still remains responsive to taps from our fingers at the location where it is. It seems the keyboard remains functional and responsive to taps even though we can no longer observe/see it.
We are trying to figure out how to implement similar functionality in our app whereby the user can continue to manipulate a 3d entity when the user can no longer actually observe it in passthrough (like the visionOS keyboard appears to allow).
I assume the visionOS keyboard has this functionality thanks to the downward facing sensors on the hardware that allow hand tracking even though the hands can no longer be observed by the user. That is likely how we can rest our hands on our lap is still be able to interact with visionOS.
How can we implement a similar functionality for 3D entities?
Is there a way to tap in, or to allow hand tracking, from those toward facing cameras?
Is it possible to manipulate a 3D entity when it is no longer observed by the user for example when they shift their attention somewhere else in the field of vision?
How does the visionOS keyboard achieve this?
Hi,
since iOS 18 UnlitMaterial and ShaderGraphMaterial have the option to disable tone mapping, e.g via https://developer.apple.com/documentation/realitykit/unlitmaterial/init(applypostprocesstonemap:)
Is it possible to do the same for CustomMaterial? I tried initializing a CustomMaterial based on an UnlitMaterial where tone mapping is disabled, like so:
let unlitMat = UnlitMaterial(applyPostProcessToneMap: false)
let customMaterial = try CustomMaterial(
from: unlitMat,
surfaceShader: surfaceShader,
geometryModifier: geometryModifier
)
but that does not seem to work. The colors of my texture still look altered in comparison to a plain UnlitMaterial or a ShaderGraphMaterial where its disabled.
Any hints? Thank you!
I’m working on a Vision Pro app using Metal and need to implement multi-pass rendering. Specifically, I want to render intermediate results to a texture, then use that texture in a second pass for post-processing before presenting the final output.
What’s the best approach in visionOS? Should I use multiple render passes in a single command buffer or separate command buffers? Any insights on efficiently handling this in RealityKit or Metal?
Thanks!
Hope to achieve stable transmission
And the colors are different. The colors in the glasses are not consistent with the colors projected on the screen.
Hi Apple Developer Community,
I'm developing an eye-tracking application using ARKit's ARFaceTrackingConfiguration and ARFaceAnchor.blendShapes for gaze detection using Xcode. I'm experiencing several calibration and accuracy issues and would appreciate insights from the community.
Current Implementation
Using ARFaceAnchor.blendShapes (.eyeLookUpLeft, .eyeLookDownLeft, .eyeLookInLeft, .eyeLookOutLeft, etc.)
Implementing custom sensitivity curves and smoothing algorithms
Applying baseline correction and coordinate mapping
Using quadratic regression for calibration point mapping
Issues I'm Facing
1. Calibration Mismatch
Red dot position doesn't align with where I'm actually looking
Significant offset between intended gaze point and actual cursor position
Calibration seems to drift or become inaccurate over time
2. Extreme Eye Movement Requirements
Need to make exaggerated eye movements to reach screen edges/corners
Natural eye movements don't translate to proportional cursor movement
Difficulty reaching certain screen regions even with calibration
3. Sensitivity and Stability Issues
Cursor jitters or jumps around when looking at center
Too much sensitivity to micro-movements
Inconsistent behavior between calibration and normal operation
4. I also noticed that tracking on calibration screen as well as tracking on reading screen works better as expected when head movement is there, but I do not want much head movement. I want tracking with normal eye movement while reading an Ebook.
Primary Question: Word-Level Eye Tracking Feasibility
Is word-level eye tracking (tracking gaze as users read through individual words in an ebook) technically feasible with current iPhone/iPad hardware?
I understand that Apple's built-in eye tracking is primarily an accessibility feature for UI navigation. However, I'm wondering if the TrueDepth camera and ARKit's eye tracking capabilities are sufficient for:
Tracking natural reading patterns (left-to-right, line-by-line progression)
Detecting which specific words a user is looking at
Maintaining accuracy for sustained reading sessions (15-30 minutes)
Working reliably across different users and lighting conditions
Questions for the Community
Hardware Limitations: Are iPhone/iPad TrueDepth cameras capable of the precision needed for word-level tracking, or is this beyond current hardware capabilities?
Calibration Best Practices: What calibration strategies have worked best for accurate gaze mapping? How many calibration points are typically needed?
Reading-Specific Challenges: Are there particular challenges when tracking reading behavior vs. general gaze tracking?
Alternative Approaches: Are there better approaches than ARKit blend shapes for this use case?
Current Setup
Devices: iPhone 14 Pro
iOS Version: iOS 18.3
ARKit Version: Latest available
Any insights, experiences, or technical guidance would be greatly appreciated. I'm particularly interested in hearing from developers who have worked on similar eye tracking applications or have experience with the limitations and capabilities of ARKit's eye tracking features.
Thank you for your time and expertise!
I am developing a Unity application for the Apple Vision Pro using PolySpatial and RealityKit integration.
The goal is to create a graspable object (for example, a handheld cube) that includes a secondary camera. When the user grabs and moves the object, the secondary camera should render its view to a RenderTexture, which is displayed on a quad attached to the object, simulating a live camera screen.
In the Unity Editor, this setup works correctly. The RenderTexture updates in real time, and the quad displays the camera’s view as expected.
However, when building and running the application on the Vision Pro, the quad only displays the clear background color of the secondary camera. No scene content appears. The graspable interaction itself works fine: the object can be grabbed and moved as intended.
Steps I have taken:
Created a new layer (CameraFeed) and assigned the relevant objects to it.
Set the secondary camera’s culling mask to render only the CameraFeed layer.
Assigned the RenderTexture as the camera’s target texture.
Applied the RenderTexture to an Unlit/Texture material on a quad.
Confirmed the camera is active and correctly positioned relative to the object.
From my research, it appears that once objects are managed by RealityKit through PolySpatial (for example, made graspable), they are no longer rendered through Unity's normal camera pipeline. Only the main XR camera (managed by RealityKit) seems able to see these objects. Secondary Unity cameras cannot render RealityKit-synced content to a RenderTexture. If this is correct, it seems there is currently no way to implement a true live secondary camera feed showing graspable objects on Vision Pro using Unity PolySpatial.
My questions are:
Is there any official way to enable multiple camera rendering of RealityKit-managed objects through PolySpatial?
Are there known workarounds to simulate a live camera feed that still allows objects to be grabbed?
Has anyone found alternative design patterns or methods for this kind of interaction?
Environment: Unity 6.0 , PolySpatial 2.2.4, Apple Vision OS XR 2.2.4
Any insight or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.